Saks Inc. announces Syracuse among five new locations for its Off 5th upscale outlet concept

David Lassman / Post-Standard file photoWork-in-progress at the Carousel Center mall expansion as seen in late June. A view of the huge windows on the south side of the atrium.

Syracuse, NY -- Saks Inc. Monday named Syracuse as one of the cities landing a Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th upscale outlet store in 2012.

The New York City retailer issued a news release concerning five new locations opening in 2012. All of the stores, the company said, will be located in "upscale outlet, lifestyle or strip centers."

The Off 5th outlet coming to Syracuse will be landing in the expansion of Carousel Center mall, a Saks spokeswoman told The Post-Standard in June.

Amber Cacali, vice president of marketing for Off 5th, said its store in the expansion will feature the clothing chain's new open-air, "loft-like" look with wide aisles that make it easy for customers to navigate.

Off 5TH stores sell some of the same men's, women's and children's clothing found in full-price Saks Fifth Avenue stores, plus merchandise of similar look and quality but made specifically for its outlet chain. Cacali said prices at Off 5th are 20 percent to 50 percent less than original retail prices.

"It's going to be a nice customer experience, " said Cacali.

The other locations for new Off 5th stores in 2012 include Merrimack, N.H., Livermore, Calif., Grand Prairie, Texas, and Nashville. The Merrimack store will be the first Off 5th in New Hampshire, and the store in Nashville will be a replacement store for the one lost in the 2010 flood in Tennessee.

The company said stores will feature an open air loft-like environment and will range up to 28,000-square-feet. Saks executives say the layout offers maximized efficiency and flexibility, enabling easy change. The space will be bright, uncluttered with no hard aisles. All fixtures will be on casters, ensuring easy movement and all hardware will be interchangeable between fixtures.

The expansion of Carousel Center is expected to open in the spring with a mixture of upscale outlets, traditional retailers and restaurants and entertainment space.

A list of the first 14 tenants signed up for Destiny USA, the name given to the expansion, is a mix of high-end outlet stores, restaurants and a 34-lane bowling center.